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[lightconductor]

If you have a message for me, Dr. John Watson, please leave it here. I shall certainly get back to you as soon as I can.
- JW

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[pineapplesalmon]

César blinks, then relaxes into a warm smile as he looks back up to Watson as Watson makes his little realization. Then, Watson keeps talking, and his smile widens. He leans into the hand on his cheek and closes his eyes, entirely relaxed.

"... Well, if you're going to say such nice things about it, what kind of man would I be to deny you?" Now that he's said his peace, he finds himself okay with it. "Besides, if Rex ever does show up and we somehow end up on good terms, the look on his face will be phenomenal if he saw you tugging on it."

He opens one eye to look up at Watson. "Rex makes the best faces. Flat out, the best I've ever seen."

Strange, how talking about Rex can break his heart or mend his heart within minutes of each thought. It's weird to even César.

[lightconductor]

"Better than yours? I'll believe it when I see it."

Because César makes wonderful faces, thank you very much. Whether they might ever been in a situation where Watson might be flirty in front of Rex is an entirely different question and probably not one worth thinking about too hard.

"But then, perhaps it's merely a family resemblance you share. Which I can well believe, as I have seen photographs of him."

[pineapplesalmon]

A rumbling chuckle of a laugh, despite tired. "His are more intense than mine. But... it is one of the ways we're alike, yes."

He's pinged by a thought, and César looks a bit more vulnerable than he did before.

"... we're alike enough that, if he did show up here, things might be okay. You and Johnny would see him just as well as you see me."

César pauses, then lets his shoulder sag, looking a bit relieved. "What a strange thought after all of... that."

[lightconductor]

He's not quite sure what to say to that. As much as he would love to be witness to a reunion and reconciliation between them... Rex being here, anyone new being here, is something of a tragedy.

"Simply because the pair of you were surrounded by fools who don't know to look beyond their own thoughts doesn't mean that's the only sort of person in the world," Watson scoffs.

[pineapplesalmon]

A rumbling chuckle at the statement. "We lacked time and people telling us we were idiots."

He leans against Watson again, boneless, and sighs as his smile fades. "... I mean, I wouldn't want him to be here. He's not emotionally indestructible. If he experiences anything traumatic enough, without emotional support... his nanites 'protect' him by wiping his memories. His carers called it 'rebooting'. Wiping the slate clean."

Slowly, he shakes his head. "An unfortunate side-effect we couldn't have predicted, as they were only supposed to heal physical wounds. But psychological trauma leaves its mark on you, physiologically...."

César gained access to the files. Experienced a close call almost caused by himself. Something he would've avoided had people told him what was up with his brother.

"He's used to fighting way worse than what we've experienced so far, but... he'd be a ticking timebomb unless he bonded with me or someone else." César's brows are furrowed with worry now. "I-I honestly wouldn't care who, as long as he had anyone. It's best if he never shows up."